Summary: I believe we are in the situation that we are in because we have been quiet for far too long. We have not applied biblical principles towards the same sex issue. We have not sounded a clear call and it is time we do.

Purpose: I believe we are in the situation that we are in because we have been quiet for far too long. We have not applied biblical principles towards the same sex issue. We have not sounded a clear call and it is time we do.

Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral

First by praying for wisdom as I choose my words. I don’t want this in any way to be a soapbox opportunity just to fire up emotions over a sensitive issue.

This is not an opportunity for us to condemn and ridicule or make ourselves feel better or superior by degrading others. I really want us to know God’s heart in this issue and then see what our responsibilities are as God’s people.

Secondly---let’s ask God to open our minds---and to show us areas that might need to be changed in our thinking and our actions. “Let us Pray”

Illustration: This past week I had a sleep study done. I found out the reason I have been waking myself and Stacy up each and every night, I have sleep apnea. You see, I wake up throughout the night because I stop breathing. It is my body’s way of saying, “Wake up, something is wrong”!

Iowa, something is wrong and we too need to wake up. God is calling each of us to realize that there is a problem and we need to wake up!

We are going to talk about homosexuality and same sex marriage. I believe this is a crucial area we are facing as Iowans and as a nation. And it has an effect on the church.

Illustration: There was a sexual revolution after the 1960’s and these days, we’re in the midst of another. Time Magazine has called it the “Homosexual Revolution.” They say this revolution is changing the way we see our most basic institutions: church, schools, military, marriage, even culture itself.

As a result of this revolution, everywhere one looks there are signs of gay acceptability.

¬ In the 1970’s you had one homosexual character on TV, we now have several dozen.

¬ Many pop stars and many athletes are coming out of the closet.

¬ Even Disneyland - that icon of conventional Family Life - annually welcomes 20,000 gay men and women to Gay Day.

¬ In our public policy there is increasing validation of homosexuality as a perfectly acceptable alternative model for sexuality and family life.¬ And of course in April of 2009 the Iowa Supreme Court opened the way for legally marrying gays in the state of Iowa.

Let me share with you some myths about homosexuality.

I. Myth #1---People are born homosexuals.

A. I’ve heard well meaning people say this in defense of this lifestyle. How many of you have heard that there is a gay gene that has been found? (response) How many of us, accepted it and thought maybe it’s true?

Illustration: In 1993 Dr. Hamer studied 40 pair of non-identical gay brothers and claimed that 33 had inherited the same x-linked genetic markers indicating a genetic cause for homosexuality.

Without confirmation----the media latched on to this story and exaggerated his findings to say there had been found a positive gay gene.

Hamer’s study was quickly proved misleading---and not even scientific in how it was handled. Within a year it had been proven that no such gene existed. Since that time Dr. Hamer has admitted it was not true---when asked about this he and others in the movement have said, “It doesn’t matter now, people already believe it and it’s made life easier for homosexuals.”

1. We need to wake up Iowans and tell them people are not born homosexual---it’s a myth.

II. Myth #2 Jesus did not speak against homosexuality.

A. It is true. Jesus never said a word against homosexuality. But he also never said a word against rape, incest, spouse abuse, or child abuse---but our intelligence understands these are wrong. And other places in scripture enforce that understanding.

1. We need to wake up Iowa to something called COMMON SENSE.

2. It should be very obvious that man and woman were created to fit together. Without going into much detail, just think of the parts each have and realize what God had made them for. Some things just fit while others simply do not. God’s idea of marriage is for man and woman and that is common sense.

I believe we are in the situation that we are in because we have been quiet for far too long. We have not applied biblical principles towards the same sex issue. We have not sounded a clear call and it is time we do.